But the village of Bar Harbor and the expansive Acadia National Park share the big, mountainous Mount Desert Island, thick not only with evergreen spruces and pines but equally rich in those hardwoods — maples and birches especially — that bring brilliant orange, red and yellow colors to the landscape.

During the last couple of weeks of September, the color builds by the day, ever brighter, the spectrum expanding, until somewhere around the first week of October it reaches a crescendo of color, with vibrant hues peaking through the middle of the month.

That the great fall color comes early in Downeast Maine provides an opportunity for foliage enthusiasts to get an early eyeful in one of the great playgrounds of the East while the weather is often most comfortable.

If Acadia National Park had nothing but its 45 miles of historic and beautifully maintained carriage roads, 16 feet wide and closed to motor vehicles, it would be worth a visit. These roads wend among hills, through forest, beside lakes and streams, along marshes and meadows. Everyone seems to carry a camera, for good reason.

There are more than 140 miles of hiking trails in Acadia, too, including a four-mile Ocean Path that follows a rock cliff where the waves pummel the shore below. That the path is hugely popular and is served by an entire system of parking lots should not be surprising or off-putting. The trail simply is that good. Sea ducks such as common eider bob around in the ocean among colorful little buoys marking the lobster traps that are ubiquitous along the Maine shore.

Another great trail, a little over 3 miles long, loops around Jordan Pond, hugging the shoreline, with constant water and mountain views. It is especially nice if you'd like a trail less traveled, though you won't be alone.

A visit to the summit of Cadillac Mountain is a must, either by driving the 3.5-mile winding road or hiking one of the trails. Either way, the views from the mountain — at 1,530 feet, it is the highest peak on the eastern coast — are special. Unless, of course, the mountain is fogged in.

Twice I drove to the summit at dawn. Twice I was enveloped in fog, stayed a half-hour, camera in hand, and drove down. I have my excuse to revisit.

A great way to get oriented in Acadia is the 27-mile park loop road, a veritable sampler of the park's coastal, mountain and lake scenery. Start at the Hulls Cove Visitors Center, where there is extensive information on park activities, maps of the park, informational films and park rangers available to answer questions. The visitor center is an essential first stop.

The national park offers free and frequent bus service between key points, including tours along the loop road. Buses are plentiful enough that visitors can get off at one location to take photos or hike, and hop another bus minutes or hours later. Schedules are widely available in the area, including the visitors center.

Bicycling and kayaking are enormously popular. The carriage roads, free of car traffic, are ideal. Cyclists also use the loop road, and those with the lung capacity even ride to the summit of Cadillac Mountain — a difficult climb.

Kayakers can paddle the lakes within the park (Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake are surrounded by mountains) or cruise the coast. Seal Harbor Beach, at the southeast tip of the island, offers access to a nicely sheltered section of island coast. Park rangers can explain hiking, cycling and kayaking opportunities throughout the park and island.

Bar Harbor, Ellsworth and nearby villages constitute a full-blown vacation destination, with plenty of amenities. Lodging, from luxury to budget, is available. Even in the fall, the area attracts many visitors, many of them arriving by cruise ship. Motels, hotels, shops and restaurants are open at least until Nov. 1, some later.

Finding a good lobster dinner is a sea breeze. From Ellsworth to Bar Harbor along Route 3, about 20 miles, the choices are many. Seafood is featured at many restaurants, but virtually every cuisine and price range is available.

Wild Maine blueberries grow abundantly in the Downeast Maine area. By mid-September, the fresh berries may be gone (August is peak), but that does not mean you will not encounter blueberries in some form. Blueberry pie is a menu staple, as are blueberry muffins. There is even a local craft beer with a hint of blueberry.

Nights and mornings can be quite cool in the fall. Bring a warm jacket, and gloves and a hat might even be welcome. Days are often warm and comfortable.